Starting the New Year off right

Last night our family rang in the New Year like usual. We watched movies and broke out the sparkling grape juice in our plastic champagne flutes! I bought a big party pack at Target for less the $4 three years ago! It had 20 flutes in it and we still have enough left for next year! Now that is savvy shopping!!! This year we celebrated in the eastern time zone with New York and went to bed! I guess technically we slept in the new year!

Asa started 2011 off with a bang! He got up so happy and playful this morning. He ate scrambled eggs with us for breakfast. We were celebrating how far Asa has come with his eating in 2010. This time last year Asa was totally tube fed. At the beginning of the year we tried to do feeding with a big syringe but soon tired of feeding time being such a chore and completely hands on. Soon we did 4 bolus feeds with a pump. This gave us time to play with food while his belly got full from the pump. If he completely revolted we could let him play while on the pump and we could still get things accomplished. In the spring Asa learned to drink from a straw and a whole new world opened. He started drinking most of his pedisure from a straw cup but would still resist and be tube fed. He could drink juice from a juice box though and this gave him added hydration. Shortly after he turned 3 in October he started accepting more textures and even better, he started asking for food and tastes! Even as a newborn he never seemed get understand hunger pains and he never asked for food! It was like he was finally enjoying eating! In the last month or so Asa learned to sign "more please" to ask for food! I love it every single time he does this!!!!

Tonight my mom cooked the customary New Years food. Cabbage (for money) and black eyed peas (for health) for the next year. She also made a stew to put up for the winter but we had to eat some NOW! Yummy! I made Asa a plate with cabbage, peas, potatoes, a baby carrot and stew. It was more food than he's ever eaten but I wanted him to try it all. He surprised us by eating it all!!! And still asked for "more please"! I gave him a slice of cheese and he finished all of that!!! And cheese is a new food! The eggs this morning gave him an awful tummy ache and I had to suck the food off his tummy. So far he has handled the cheese fine! 

I'm just so thankful with how well he is eating! Is it possible that 2011 might be the year we get rid of the tube? I have to say that I LOVE his tube. Odd as it sounds the tube is such a blessing! We can drain his tummy when it doesn't want to work. We can feed him when he is sick and won't eat. We can give meds when he needs them and refuses. Yes, I'm not sure I want to get rid of the tube! I don't want to have to use it but i like having it around! Kinda like the GUN (as opposed to the "gin" that I orignally posted!) I keep under my pillow.....kidding!

Will 2011 be the year Asa walks? I'm really not sure! I hate to be negative but this is his weakest area and he is soooo far behind. He just isn't adventureous enough to strike out on his own even if his body is ready. He just lacks a confidence in his skills.

Will 2011 be the year we hear him say "Moma" and "Daddy"? Wouldn't that be wonderful?!!!! 2010 brought us several helpful signs and for that I'm so grateful!!! This morning we were talking about "friend" and he created his own version! I wouldn't say he used it on his on but with a lot of encouragement he used his version. He has signed "Daddy" a few times too! Mostly we see "more" or "more please" for hungry or thirsty but he will use it for more kisses or tickles. He signs "all done" and "school". He even signed "thank you" to my mom tonight. So 2010 didn't bring us any words but it brought us communication!!! Whether 2011 brings us more signs or more skill with the iPod touch communication apps or, dare we hope, WORDS, we will be grateful and thankful! 

I can't say 2010 was bad to us personally.  It brought our family ups and downs. Disappointments and celebrations. It sadly brought the mito family the loss of many little mito fighters. Little fighters whose too short life's have taught us much and given us many smiles. I can only pray that 2011 spare us from more of these losses and instead brings a treatment or cure for all those fighting mito so bravely. Could 2011 really be that year? That is my prayer tonight! 2011 would be a great year for a cure, don't you think?!